I’m about to push a button. By writing about something a little touchy.

I fear I may ruffle some feathers.

In advance — I’m sorry.

But, if you’ve been with me for some time, you’ve begun to understand. Read previous posts if you have to.

You know I don’t want you to settle. And I don’t think you need to sacrifice yourself just to homeschool, either.

Remember, I started this blog, this web site, and began offering my services because I want your life to be extraordinary.

Mine is.

I know you want that, too.

But, if I’m right, in addition to homeschooling, making a home, and being a parent, another part of you wants personal and professional success.

You want a job, a career, and a reason to get up in the morning besides math and laundry.

You seek online popularity. A following. Connection. A side income. Free product. An outlet, a hobby, fulfillment, recognition, appreciation, and the rest. Or, maybe you need to replace — even exceed – a full-time income, too. I get that. I really do.

You can have it.

But, a word of caution…

Your kids need you, too.

See, if you aren’t careful, observant, ultra vigilant and very-very-very aware, your path to success can be detrimental to your kids.

That’s right — you might actually harm them.

In fact, while it may seem innocent enough, your commitment to your success, your personal evolution, your professional development — while commendable and certainly very valuable for you – well, it could leave them (your kids) in the dust.

In search of your own success, isn’t it possible — even a teensy bit possible – that there isn’t enough of you left for them?

Taking your attention away from your kids and heaping it upon yourself has a way of undermining things. Your homeschooling, for sure. But, in reality, everything surrounding and having to do with your kids.

Let me be very clear. For us homeschool parents, focusing on ourselves is necessary. It’s required for our health, a prerequisite for our sanity, and critically necessary for our relationships and overall happiness. It’s a no-brainer, really. ALL parents need a break every once in a while.

But overly focusing on ourselves (our blogs, our stats, our social media, our goals, our training) is risky. Unless well-scheduled and well-balanced, there may be little time left to focus on the other things we need to do. As in, our kiddies.

When climbing your own ladder of success, please — I beg you. Take your children with you.

See, it’s a balancing act. And I’m worried. Because, for some of you, that balance may not be quite right.

I worry you may ignore them.

I worry you may shush them, assign busywork, brush them off, or turn on the television/computer/video box, a little too much.

I worry the lure of a second income, the distraction of social media, and the whole ‘I can have it all’ mentality may suck you in.

And, heck, I’ll just say it…I worry achieving your professional goals may make you less-than-a-great-parent. Not forever. But at a time when your kids really need you.

Have I ever been guilty? You bet. But, fortunately, I think I learned quickly. I can tell when I’ve ignored my role or my family just a little too much. I can recognize when I have allowed something in our home or school or health or relationships to slip. Either I notice it, or they tell me.

That’s why I don’t blog more often.

That’s why my list of projects is always a mile long.

Believe me, this all takes practice. I’m not perfect, either. It takes trial and error to get the balance just right, and then things go and change, so you have to start all over again. In our home, this seems to happen several times a year.

But it’s worth it, don’t you think? Because the kids won’t need 100% of you forever.

Try to remember why you’re homeschooling, as this will guide you. You’ll know when to give the kids a boost, helping them to reach the first and second steps. You’ll know when to hold their hands, and when to back up and just start holding the ladder. You’ll know when to stand there watching nervously, and when it’s time to turn your back so they can climb alone.

Single parents choosing homeschooling are gradually increasing in numbers. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) found almost 18% of homeschoolers came from single-parent households in 2003, up just slightly from 1997. And while it may seem this number is increasing slower than, say, homeschooling in general, considering 1/4 of the nation’s students come from single-parent families, it is actually a closer approximation of the modern American family than one might think.

Without a doubt, single-parents face obstacles not always present in two-adult households. When asked, single parents report a lack of time and dollars as two of the most serious challenges to making homeschooling work. Single parents also say they rely heavily on others for advice, emotional support and physical assistance.

Fortunately, many single parents have found the time the time to tell their stories. These tales offer encouragement and information for those just starting out. There are also networks to join, discussion groups to chat on, and forums to ask questions unique to single parent homeschooling.

Are you a single parent who homeschools? Would you be willing to share some tips that work for you? COMMENT below, to help others in similar situations. My readers and I want love to hear from you!

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago. The founder of homeschool groups and organizations, she works to advance home education, and is an outspoken supporter of education reform coast to coast. Her book, Suddenly Homeschooling: A Quick Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in Two Weeks, is industry-acclaimed as it illustrates how homeschooling can rescue children and families from the system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame and with no teaching background whatsoever. A liaison for regional school-to-home organizations and a homeschool leader in Florida, Marie-Claire also mentors homeschool families nationwide. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA, H.E.R.I., Florida Home Education Summit, Home Education Council of America, The Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool, and other events. Her articles have appeared in and on CONNECT, Homefires, Homemaking Cottage, Kiwi, Circle of Moms, and hundreds of other blogs nationwide. Marie-Claire can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.

No matter what anyone says, it really doesn’t take boatloads of money to homeschool your children. Time, yes. Resourcefulness, true. Creativity, flexibility and a willingness to remain constantly on the lookout for something that may enhance the home ed program, for sure.

But money, not necessarily.

Today’s homeschoolers have a myriad of options that simply weren’t available when homeschooling first became legal years ago. Curriculum products, textbooks, fancy educational gadgets, and interactive computer software are certainly some of them. But many of today’s options can be found inexpensively, even free, too. The trick is in knowing where to find a budget version of what some traditionally might pay a mint for.

Traditional curriculum, for instance, can be purchased on the cheap in any number of places. Used book sites, curriculum fairs, auction sites or from friends in local homeschooling groups are just the beginning. If that’s even more than your budget can afford, look online for free online textbooks, free lesson plans, and free audio and video courses, available for the taking. There are thousands and, below, you’ll find just a few great links to start you off.

Supplemental materials can also be found free or cheap. Once you enter the mind-set of looking for things that could be useful at home, you’ll practically begin tripping over all of the goodies you find in thrift stores, dollar and discount stores, yard sales and in friend’s attics and basements. There isn’t a homeschooler around who doesn’t have a great story to tell about how they scored a great freebie or greatly discounted item in the most unexpected way.

Exploring local options is an area that is sometimes overlooked. Depending on where you live, your children may have access to free or deeply discounted tuition at local colleges or technical schools, part-time enrollment at schools or continuing ed type programs, or the opportunity to audit (basically, sit in and watch, as long as there’s a seat available) classes at places of learning just about anywhere. Your local homeschooling contact can probably tell you what is available in your area. It may surprise you what’s out there when you begin looking.

Finally, tap into resources among people you know. Friends, grandparents, neighbors all have something to share. Networking is never more important than when homeschooling on a shoe-string. Putting the word out that you’re interested in opportunities for your children will help you uncover the wealth of talent and energy in your immediate circle and local area.

When homeschooling this way, it may be necessary to adopt a more relaxed and flexible curriculum style, and be ready to scoop up evidence of learning after it occurs, rather than planning it outright at the beginning. Sometimes, these are some of the best experiences, anyhow!

Don’t believe the myths you hear about homeschooling families earning more, and spending more, than other families. Research has shown that this simply isn’t true. Check out these links and get started: